All food contains all of the nutrients we need to be healthy, it is necessary to eat various foods in sufficient amounts. A good diet will include many different foods, and sufficient in quantity and quality to meet an individual’s need for food energy and other micro nutrients.

Soft Drinks

Soy

Spinach

Squash

Sugar

PERSIMMONS

Typical serving size:

1 medium persimmon (6 oz or 168 g)

HOW THEY HARM

Bloating and flatulence

WHAT THEY HEAL

Cancer Immunity Blood pressure Digestion Weight gain The persimmon is an exotic fruit with yellow-orange skin, which is at its sweetest when very ripe
There are two major varieties of persimmon in North America
One is the sweet, tomato-shaped Fuyu; the other is the juicier, crispier, acorn-shaped Hachiya
Fuyus, or nonastringent persimmons, are eaten when hard, as you would an apple
They’re crisp, sweet, and crunchy, and you can eat both the skin and the flesh
The Hachiya persimmon has an almost jelly like-texture, with flesh that tastes like honey and vanilla
However, unripe they are bitter
The trick is to let the persimmon ripen way beyond what you would normally expect
It must be soft, squishy, and almost bursting out of its skin with ripeness
When ready to eat or to use in cooking, cut off the top, scoop out the pulp, and discard the seeds

Health Benefits

May reduce cancer risk
Persimmons are high in vitamin A, which regulates cell functions, boosts your immune system, and may reduce your risk of cancer
Boosts immune system
A powerful antioxidant, the vitamin C in persimmons helps fight off harmful free radicals, boosts your immune system, and protects against infection
Lowers blood pressure
Persimmons are a good source of potassium, which can improve blood pressure by offsetting some of the harmful effects of sodium
Potassium may also lower your risk of recurring kidney stones and osteoporosis
50% of your Daily Recommended amount of Vitamin A is in a single, medium-size persimmon
Aids in digestion and weight loss
Like other fruits, persimmons are a good source of dietary fiber
The fiber in them can help improve digestion, prevent constipation, and make you feel fuller faster, which can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight

Health Risks

Digestive trouble
A perfectly ripe persimmon can be delectable, but as with any fruit, eating too many of them in one sitting could prove to be too much of a good thing and you could end up with gas, bloating, cramps, or diarrhea

Allergies

Add a cup of persimmon pulp to bread recipes for an additional zing

Chop up some persimmons and add to salsa

Freeze ripe fruit, then scoop out the insides and eat like sherbet

Buying Tip

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Hachiya persimmons should be very soft when ripe, while Fuyu are crisper

Seek out unblemished, deeply colored reddish-orange fruit with glossy skin

Storing Tips

Enjoy soft, ripe fruit immediately, because overripe persimmons can become mushy or mealy

Allow any firmer, unripe persimmons to ripen before eating,

To ripen firm fruit, place it in a paper bag at room temperature for 1 to 3 days
Put an apple in the bag with the persimmon to speed up the ripening process

Ripe persimmons can be stored in the refrigerator inside a plastic bag for up to 3 days

Store puréed persimmon flesh in the freezer for up to 6 months